X-Week Returned to SV
By Tyler Yamauchi
DFYit hosted X-Week again at Sierra Vista. X-week is a school event that goes on for one week. The event went on from March 23rd to March 27th. X-Week is to help students become aware of drugs and what they do to people and the students in Sierra Vista.
DFYit’s X-Week had included activities and the signing of a banner during lunch for X-Week. The people who signed the banner got a prize.
DFYit picked a color for each day to wear during X-Week. Some colors were orange and red. DFYit members hung posters around school to spread the news about X-Week.
Mrs. Sandoval, the head of DFYit, said, “I think it’s a very positive activity.”
Jesus Cruz, an eighth grader and the president of DFYit, said, “I think it’s a good thing that the DFYit program doesn’t just spread awareness to our members, but it’s good that we are also spreading awareness to people who don’t attend our meetings.”
DFYit’s X-Week had included activities and the signing of a banner during lunch for X-Week. The people who signed the banner got a prize.
DFYit picked a color for each day to wear during X-Week. Some colors were orange and red. DFYit members hung posters around school to spread the news about X-Week.
Mrs. Sandoval, the head of DFYit, said, “I think it’s a very positive activity.”
Jesus Cruz, an eighth grader and the president of DFYit, said, “I think it’s a good thing that the DFYit program doesn’t just spread awareness to our members, but it’s good that we are also spreading awareness to people who don’t attend our meetings.”
Peeps and Prairie Farms Create New Product
By Owen Underhill
Every Easter, families indulge in the famous puffy marshmallow chicks, Peeps, but in 2015, the usual chewy sugary treats were enjoyed in a new and unique way.
Peeps and Prairie Farms have teamed up to create a new product, marshmallow Peep-flavored milk. The milk comes in three flavors: marshmallow, chocolate marshmallow, and Easter egg nog. The product has been featured on a number of TV shows and cooking website articles and blogs, as well as social media, and even the Jimmy Kimmel Show.
However, the milk isn’t any healthier than normal Peeps. In fact, while every chick has about 6.8 grams of sugar, every cup serving of the milk has 37.
A seventh grade english teacher at Sierra Vista, Mrs. Marsh, said that even if she did like Peeps, “I wouldn’t try the milk.” She continued, “Typically, milk is healthy.”
Timmy Le, an 8th grade student at Sierra Vista, said, “I would probably try it, but I probably wouldn’t have it all the time.”
The pairing of the two companies, Peeps and Prairie Farms, which is known for its unique milk flavors, has struck consumers as both odd and unnecessary.
There’s Peeps, and there’s milk, but perhaps they should stay together but separate.
Peeps and Prairie Farms have teamed up to create a new product, marshmallow Peep-flavored milk. The milk comes in three flavors: marshmallow, chocolate marshmallow, and Easter egg nog. The product has been featured on a number of TV shows and cooking website articles and blogs, as well as social media, and even the Jimmy Kimmel Show.
However, the milk isn’t any healthier than normal Peeps. In fact, while every chick has about 6.8 grams of sugar, every cup serving of the milk has 37.
A seventh grade english teacher at Sierra Vista, Mrs. Marsh, said that even if she did like Peeps, “I wouldn’t try the milk.” She continued, “Typically, milk is healthy.”
Timmy Le, an 8th grade student at Sierra Vista, said, “I would probably try it, but I probably wouldn’t have it all the time.”
The pairing of the two companies, Peeps and Prairie Farms, which is known for its unique milk flavors, has struck consumers as both odd and unnecessary.
There’s Peeps, and there’s milk, but perhaps they should stay together but separate.
Musical Instruments Visit SV Brown Bag
By Jason Gutierrez
The Brown Bag Presentation was held in the SV Library displaying “Musical Instruments from Around the World” on Thursday, April 2nd. It was held to inform students about the different musical instruments around the world. Suzie Fulleman, the presenter at the presentation, is a choral music teacher in the Irvine School District.
Fulleman said, “I love coming to Sierra Vista! I was in band and chorus as a student at Sierra Vista a little over 10 years ago, and my experiences there helped make me the music teacher I am today. I'm so grateful that the Brown Bag presentations give students the opportunity to see that the things they currently care about in school can turn into lifelong passions.”
She brought instruments from different categories like the woodwind, violin, zither, tumbadora, drum, and thumb piano. The woodwind instrument that Fulleman brought was an instrument from Australia called a didgeridoo, a long wooden tube that is blown into to make a low sound.
From Laos, she brought a khene, a violin instrument made of bamboo that is blow into to make a violin like sound. The zither instrument that she brought from China was the erhu, an instrument that has two strings that are held in the lap and played with a bow.
Fulleman brought a gun zheng for the tumbadora instrument group. The drum instruments Fulleman brought included the conga from Latin America, a talking drum from Africa, and a havana drum from Ghana. She brought one thumb piano called the mbira from Zimbabwe.
Fulleman said, “I chose instruments that represented a variety of locations from around the world. Many of these instruments have been collected from my own personal travels, or have be given to me as gifts from friends who have traveled to those countries. I also wanted to show how different instruments create sound, using strings, air, a vibrating skin, or even your own body!”
Tristan Hawk, a 7th grader who went to the Brown Bag Presentation, said, “I went because I just really like instruments. I’m in band so it really convinced me. I liked making my own instrument at the Brown Bag also.”
Daniel Kim, another 7th grader who went to the Brown Bag Presentation, said, “I went because I like music and my friends went.”
Fulleman said, “I love coming to Sierra Vista! I was in band and chorus as a student at Sierra Vista a little over 10 years ago, and my experiences there helped make me the music teacher I am today. I'm so grateful that the Brown Bag presentations give students the opportunity to see that the things they currently care about in school can turn into lifelong passions.”
She brought instruments from different categories like the woodwind, violin, zither, tumbadora, drum, and thumb piano. The woodwind instrument that Fulleman brought was an instrument from Australia called a didgeridoo, a long wooden tube that is blown into to make a low sound.
From Laos, she brought a khene, a violin instrument made of bamboo that is blow into to make a violin like sound. The zither instrument that she brought from China was the erhu, an instrument that has two strings that are held in the lap and played with a bow.
Fulleman brought a gun zheng for the tumbadora instrument group. The drum instruments Fulleman brought included the conga from Latin America, a talking drum from Africa, and a havana drum from Ghana. She brought one thumb piano called the mbira from Zimbabwe.
Fulleman said, “I chose instruments that represented a variety of locations from around the world. Many of these instruments have been collected from my own personal travels, or have be given to me as gifts from friends who have traveled to those countries. I also wanted to show how different instruments create sound, using strings, air, a vibrating skin, or even your own body!”
Tristan Hawk, a 7th grader who went to the Brown Bag Presentation, said, “I went because I just really like instruments. I’m in band so it really convinced me. I liked making my own instrument at the Brown Bag also.”
Daniel Kim, another 7th grader who went to the Brown Bag Presentation, said, “I went because I like music and my friends went.”
Titans Win Pennies for Patients
By Sean Elmore
Pennies for Patients is a charity that raises millions of dollars every year to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They fund the money by having students from elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools donate their money. For Sierra Vista, they tried to make a goal of at least 1200 dollars for the charity in the three week period, but only got around 807.
For schools that participate, every class or team, that donates the most money gets a free pizza party. For Sierra Vista, the Titans had raised the most money overall. Titans came in 1st place for the donations with three hundred and five dollars.
Angelee Berganio, a student on the Titans, said, “I’m glad that we got a pizza party, but I’m happier that we can help the charity.”
Mrs. Kontis, the REACH teacher, was glad that the Titans were able to help with the donations. She said, “It's a great opportunity for our students to help the community, especially children in medical need. I believe the event builds our students' characters and shows them how problems we face at school day to day are no match for what others have to go through in life. Anything we do for the cause is better than doing nothing.”
For schools that participate, every class or team, that donates the most money gets a free pizza party. For Sierra Vista, the Titans had raised the most money overall. Titans came in 1st place for the donations with three hundred and five dollars.
Angelee Berganio, a student on the Titans, said, “I’m glad that we got a pizza party, but I’m happier that we can help the charity.”
Mrs. Kontis, the REACH teacher, was glad that the Titans were able to help with the donations. She said, “It's a great opportunity for our students to help the community, especially children in medical need. I believe the event builds our students' characters and shows them how problems we face at school day to day are no match for what others have to go through in life. Anything we do for the cause is better than doing nothing.”
SV Puts On Annual Open House
By Breanna Regula
Sierra Vista’s Open House was held on Thursday, March 26th. The turnout was great, as cars lined the streets and filled the school’s parking lot.
The band played before the teacher’s opened their doors, welcoming students and parents in. Student Mckayla Monahan stated, “My parents went around and met my teachers and I had a great time.”
Parents and their students also enjoyed seeing what PE offered as well. They surged through the fitness center and got to take a look at the track that their students had to run.
“I also thought that it was nice to have my parents see what I was working on firsthand,” comments Monahan.
Over all, Open House had a great turnout, and it was lots of fun for parents to meet the teachers and get to know a little bit more about their students.
The band played before the teacher’s opened their doors, welcoming students and parents in. Student Mckayla Monahan stated, “My parents went around and met my teachers and I had a great time.”
Parents and their students also enjoyed seeing what PE offered as well. They surged through the fitness center and got to take a look at the track that their students had to run.
“I also thought that it was nice to have my parents see what I was working on firsthand,” comments Monahan.
Over all, Open House had a great turnout, and it was lots of fun for parents to meet the teachers and get to know a little bit more about their students.
SCV Starts Art and Writing Contest
By Sarah Valdivia
Santa Clarita artists and writers have a chance to win $1000 by entering in the Art and Writing contest. To enter, contestants have to be between 13 and 18 years old to enter. The city of Santa Clarita is in partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley International Program, (SCVIP) and is inviting all local teens that like to draw and write. Submissions were due by April 15, 2015.
Mrs. Flaherty, an english teacher and ASB director her at Sierra Vista, stated “I think that having this Art and Writing contest is good because it's always good to have students participate in community events; they learn more about where they live as a result. It also shows our community the talent our students have.”
The SCVIP has chosen the the Art and Writing theme of “Connecting Communities with Peace and Prosperity.” Writers are able to write and enter poems, or essays for the writers contest part. Also, they encourage artists to draw two-dimensional art pieces for the art part of the contest.
In each category one person will be selected to win $100. Then, in Washington D.C., they have a chance to compete with other cities teens, that participant, have a chance to win $1,000.To seek more information go to:
http://www.hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/santa-clarita-teen-artist-have-chance-to-win-1000-148373
Mrs. Flaherty, an english teacher and ASB director her at Sierra Vista, stated “I think that having this Art and Writing contest is good because it's always good to have students participate in community events; they learn more about where they live as a result. It also shows our community the talent our students have.”
The SCVIP has chosen the the Art and Writing theme of “Connecting Communities with Peace and Prosperity.” Writers are able to write and enter poems, or essays for the writers contest part. Also, they encourage artists to draw two-dimensional art pieces for the art part of the contest.
In each category one person will be selected to win $100. Then, in Washington D.C., they have a chance to compete with other cities teens, that participant, have a chance to win $1,000.To seek more information go to:
http://www.hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/santa-clarita-teen-artist-have-chance-to-win-1000-148373
Superhero Day Flies into SV
By Nikash Nath
Superhero Day was recently hosted by ASB on Friday, March 27, 2015. This was a day where students and teachers dressed up like superheroes of their choice and there was a race held at lunch in the quad.
There were all types of superheroes on this day. There were many students and teachers dressed as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and plenty of other ones who participated in this race.
Conrad Meza, an 8th grader who is a member of ASB, said, “It was me and my group who planned to participate in this fun event.”
He also added, “Superhero Day was really fun. It was cool to see how many people participated and how that people were excited for the superhero race we planned, too, so it was a fun activity to plan.”
Meza finished, “My favorite superhero would have to be Spiderman.”
There were all types of superheroes on this day. There were many students and teachers dressed as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and plenty of other ones who participated in this race.
Conrad Meza, an 8th grader who is a member of ASB, said, “It was me and my group who planned to participate in this fun event.”
He also added, “Superhero Day was really fun. It was cool to see how many people participated and how that people were excited for the superhero race we planned, too, so it was a fun activity to plan.”
Meza finished, “My favorite superhero would have to be Spiderman.”
SV Takes on CAASPP Testing
By Sofia Figueroa
The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP testing is a new form of the state tests for students and teachers in the district. It was made to make testing easier and more accurate.
“I think the way it’s set up on the computers is helpful to students,” comments 7th grade math teacher Ms. Viana
The advanced way of testing is computer-based and personalized for each student, therefore teachers can have a more exact score on their students.
Also many teachers across the state are now incorporating technology including this test into their everyday tests and lessons.
“This is way more useful to assess students than the traditional paper and pencil tests that have been in existence...well...since paper and pencils were invented,” explained Mr. Hinze.
“I think the way it’s set up on the computers is helpful to students,” comments 7th grade math teacher Ms. Viana
The advanced way of testing is computer-based and personalized for each student, therefore teachers can have a more exact score on their students.
Also many teachers across the state are now incorporating technology including this test into their everyday tests and lessons.
“This is way more useful to assess students than the traditional paper and pencil tests that have been in existence...well...since paper and pencils were invented,” explained Mr. Hinze.
Sierra Vista Launches Its Book Fair
By Damian Haro
The Book Fair was the place where students went to go buy new Scholastic books. The Book Fair was held from March 23rd to the 28th. The Book Fair was held in the library and students were allowed to come to the Book Fair during lunch, brunch, and after school if they did not buy anything when they went their class to the event.
The total amount of funds that were raised were 2,300 dollars. The funds went to the school’s subscription to Scholastic Reading Counts, for SRC tests, new library books, and the teacher wish list.
Mrs. Fulleman, the school Librarian, said “I think that students were excited to see a store in the back of library.” The people that helped set up the Book Fair were Mrs. Kulesz, 8 parent volunteers, and student service. There were romantic books, action, mystery, informative, comics, and more.
The total amount of funds that were raised were 2,300 dollars. The funds went to the school’s subscription to Scholastic Reading Counts, for SRC tests, new library books, and the teacher wish list.
Mrs. Fulleman, the school Librarian, said “I think that students were excited to see a store in the back of library.” The people that helped set up the Book Fair were Mrs. Kulesz, 8 parent volunteers, and student service. There were romantic books, action, mystery, informative, comics, and more.
SV Holds Bookmark Contest
by Brett Wilson
The bookmark contest took place from March 24-27. Each seventh grader chose a book and drew a scene from that book, with a matching quote.
The winners of the 7th grade bookmark contest was Erynn Morales in first, and Giuliana Ramirez in second. Cynthia Valdez came in third. Angela Marquez in fourth, and Jana Kelly in fifth. The poster which has the bookmarks on them are in the library.
“I chose Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth because I really liked that series. I especially liked the scene because I was waiting for that to happen for Percy and Annabeth to kiss for a long time,” said Erynn Morales, winner of the book mark contest.
Morales’ bookmark showed two characters, Annabeth Chase and Percy Jackson (two characters from the series Percy Jackson And The Olympians) giving each other a kiss in front of a volcano.
“I think I did pretty well depicting the book. I put in everything which happened in that scene, which was a lot!” added Morales.
But how did Moraless bookmark get chosen?
“It takes about 3 days to do all the judging. Once the bookmarks are turned in it usually takes 1 day to sort the finalists, then 2 days to get them printed and judge 1-5,” said Mrs. Fulleman.
“We judge based on if they follow the rules, if the illustration matches the quote, and if it makes you want to read the books,” Fulleman added.
The winners of the 7th grade bookmark contest was Erynn Morales in first, and Giuliana Ramirez in second. Cynthia Valdez came in third. Angela Marquez in fourth, and Jana Kelly in fifth. The poster which has the bookmarks on them are in the library.
“I chose Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth because I really liked that series. I especially liked the scene because I was waiting for that to happen for Percy and Annabeth to kiss for a long time,” said Erynn Morales, winner of the book mark contest.
Morales’ bookmark showed two characters, Annabeth Chase and Percy Jackson (two characters from the series Percy Jackson And The Olympians) giving each other a kiss in front of a volcano.
“I think I did pretty well depicting the book. I put in everything which happened in that scene, which was a lot!” added Morales.
But how did Moraless bookmark get chosen?
“It takes about 3 days to do all the judging. Once the bookmarks are turned in it usually takes 1 day to sort the finalists, then 2 days to get them printed and judge 1-5,” said Mrs. Fulleman.
“We judge based on if they follow the rules, if the illustration matches the quote, and if it makes you want to read the books,” Fulleman added.